Panama Health Ministry Steps Up Campaign Against Fake Medicines and Weight-Loss Products

Panama’s Health Ministry is intensifying a campaign against counterfeit medicines and products promoted for weight loss, warning that some purchases could put consumers’ health at risk.

The campaign, conducted under the slogan “Caution! A counterfeit medicine could cost you your life,” is led by the National Directorate of Pharmacy and Drugs in coordination with the Public Ministry, the Security Ministry and the National Customs Authority.

Health Minister Fernando Boyd Galindo urged people to check that medicines come from establishments authorized and certified by the ministry. “We want to raise awareness among the population to be careful about what they are buying and not buy it in places that are not appropriate,” he said.

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Caution! A counterfeit medicine could cost you your life.

Boyd said counterfeit medicines may fail to produce the expected effect, allowing an illness to continue worsening. They may also contain substances that can harm people’s health.

The pharmacy directorate issued a health alert last week over illegally marketed and counterfeit products promoted for weight control. The alert followed information linked to a warning from Colombia’s National Food and Drug Surveillance Institute, Invima.

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We want to raise awareness among the population to be careful about what they are buying and not buy it in places that are not appropriate.

The products listed include Tirzepatide injection 10 mg, Retatrutide 10 mg/mL solution for injection, Retatrutide R30, Retatrutide R10, GHK-Cu peptide solution, LIPO-C + B12 combination injection, NAD+ 10 mg/mL solution for injection and Retatrutida (Reta) R20. Other products identified include DSIP, Selank 10, Semax 10, PT-141 10, Ipamorelin IPA10, CJC-1295 no DAC10, BPC-157 10, GHK-CU50 and TB-500 10.

Uriel Pérez, director of Pharmacy and Drugs, focused on products sold through digital commerce, particularly weight-loss promotions and injectables. He warned that consumers often cannot determine where such products came from or how they moved through the supply chain.

“There is always a risk of contamination. We do not know that product’s supply chain,” Pérez said. He urged consumers to avoid informal sales points, including streets, corners, Metro station exits and businesses without health authorization.

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There is always a risk of contamination. We do not know that product’s supply chain.